U.S. patent application number 15/209153 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for transmission system and processing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is OLYMPUS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takehiko ITO, Sachiko OKURA.
Application Number | 20160323531 15/209153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55581090 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160323531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKURA; Sachiko ; et
al. |
November 3, 2016 |
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND PROCESSING DEVICE
Abstract
A transmission system includes: a first timing signal generation
unit; a second timing signal generation unit; a timing adjustment
unit; a transmission processing unit; a first valid data generation
unit which receives a first timing signal, receives only data
according to valid timing of the first timing signal in a first
image signal from a process signal to generate a first valid image
signal, and receives only data according to valid timing of the
first timing signal in a second image signal and a second timing
signal from the process signal to output the received second image
signal and the received second timing signal; and a second valid
data generation unit which receives the second timing signal from
the first valid data generation unit and receives only data
according to valid timing of the second timing signal in the second
image signal to generate a second valid image signal.
Inventors: |
OKURA; Sachiko; (Tokyo,
JP) ; ITO; Takehiko; (Saitama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OLYMPUS CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
55581090 |
Appl. No.: |
15/209153 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2015/076542 |
Sep 17, 2015 |
|
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15209153 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/00009 20130101;
A61B 1/00004 20130101; A61B 1/0051 20130101; A61B 1/07 20130101;
H04N 5/04 20130101; H04N 5/38 20130101; H04N 2005/2255 20130101;
G09G 5/006 20130101; A61B 1/00006 20130101; A61B 1/00011 20130101;
H04N 5/2256 20130101; A61B 1/045 20130101; A61B 1/04 20130101; H04N
7/185 20130101; A61B 1/00045 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/38 20060101
H04N005/38; A61B 1/04 20060101 A61B001/04; H04N 5/04 20060101
H04N005/04; A61B 1/005 20060101 A61B001/005; H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; A61B 1/00 20060101 A61B001/00; A61B 1/07 20060101
A61B001/07 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2014 |
JP |
2014-196951 |
Claims
1. A transmission system transmitting a plurality of image signals
having different clock rates, each of which includes valid timing
and invalid timing, the transmission system comprising: a first
timing signal generation unit which receives a first image signal
having the highest clock rate among the plurality of image signals
and generates a first timing signal representing valid timing and
invalid timing of the first image signal; a second timing signal
generation unit which receives a second image signal other than the
first image signal and generates a second timing signal
representing valid timing and invalid timing of the second image
signal, each valid timing of the second timing signal being
synchronized with the valid timing of the first timing signal; a
timing adjustment unit which receives the first timing signal and
the second image signal and outputs the second image signal based
on the first timing signal; a transmission processing unit which
receives the first and second timing signals and the first and
second image signals and individually outputs the first timing
signal and a process signal including the first and second image
signals and the second timing signal; a first valid data generation
unit which receives the first timing signal from the transmission
processing unit, receives only data according to valid timing of
the first timing signal in the first image signal from the process
signal to generate a first valid image signal, and receives only
data according to valid timing of the first timing signal in the
second image signal and the second timing signal from the process
signal to output the received second image signal and the received
second timing signal; and a second valid data generation unit which
receives the second timing signal from the first valid data
generation unit and receives only data according to valid timing of
the second timing signal in the second image signal to generate a
second valid image signal.
2. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the first
and second image signals are generated based on the same image
signal.
3. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein a
resolution of the first image signal is higher than that of the
second image signal.
4. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the first
and second valid data generation units output respective
synchronizing signals according to the first and second valid image
signals.
5. A processing device which is connected to an imaging device
including an imaging unit imaging an imaging object to output an
imaging signal and applies a predetermined process based on the
imaging signal imaged by the imaging device, the processing device
comprising: an image signal generation unit which generates a
plurality of image signals having different clock rates; a
transmission unit including a first timing signal generation unit
which receives a first image signal having the highest clock rate
among the plurality of image signals and generates a first timing
signal representing valid timing and invalid timing of the first
image signal, a second timing signal generation unit which receives
a second image signal other than the first image signal and
generates a second timing signal representing valid timing and
invalid timing of the second image signal, each valid timing of the
second timing signal being synchronized with the valid timing of
the first timing signal, a timing adjustment unit which receives
the first timing signal and the second image signal and outputs the
second image signal based on the first timing signal, a
transmission processing unit which receives the first and second
timing signals and the first and second image signals and
individually outputs the first timing signal and a process signal
including the first and second image signals and the second timing
signal, a first valid data generation unit which receives the first
timing signal from the transmission processing unit, receives only
data according to valid timing of the first timing signal in the
first image signal from the process signal to generate a first
valid image signal, and receives only data according to valid
timing of the first timing signal in the second image signal and
the second timing signal from the process signal to output the
received second image signal and the received second timing signal,
and a second valid data generation unit which receives the second
timing signal from the first valid data generation unit and
receives only data according to valid timing of the second timing
signal in the second image signal to generate a second valid image
signal; and an image processing unit which applies a signal process
for display image to the first and second valid image signals
output by the transmission unit.
6. The processing device according to claim 5, wherein the image
signal generation unit generates the first and second image signals
having different clock rates based on the same image signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT international
application Ser. No. PCT/JP2015/076542 filed on Sep. 17, 2015 which
designates the United States, incorporated herein by reference, and
which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent
Applications No. 2014-196951, filed on Sep. 26, 2014, incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a transmission system
performing transmission of an image signal and a processing device
performing a signal process of an image signal.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the related arts, endoscope systems are used for
observing organs of a subject such as a patient in medical fields.
For example, the endoscope system is configured to include an
endoscope having an inserting unit which is provided with an image
sensor at a distal end thereof and is inserted into a subject and a
processing device which is connected to a proximal end side of the
inserting unit through a cable to perform an image process on an
in-vivo image according to the imaging signal generated by the
image sensor and display the in-vivo image on a display unit or the
like.
[0006] In recent years, the display units have displayed the
in-vivo images at a high image quality. In order to achieve the
high image quality, disclosed is a processing device which can
perform an image process on an imaging signal output from an image
sensor provided to an endoscope to convert the imaging signal to a
high definition television (HDTV) image signal (refer to, for
example, JP 2003-24273 A). The processing device disclosed in JP
2003-24273 A can also convert the imaging signal to a standard
definition television (SDTV) image signal as well as the HDTV image
signal and can display in-vivo images on a monitor according to
resolution.
SUMMARY
[0007] A transmission system according to one aspect of the present
disclosure transmits a plurality of image signals having different
clock rates, each of which includes valid timing and invalid
timing, and includes: a first timing signal generation unit which
receives a first image signal having the highest clock rate among
the plurality of image signals and generates a first timing signal
representing valid timing and invalid timing of the first image
signal; a second timing signal generation unit which receives a
second image signal other than the first image signal and generates
a second timing signal representing valid timing and invalid timing
of the second image signal, each valid timing of the second timing
signal being synchronized with the valid timing of the first timing
signal; a timing adjustment unit which receives the first timing
signal and the second image signal and outputs the second image
signal based on the first timing signal; a transmission processing
unit which receives the first and second timing signals and the
first and second image signals and individually outputs the first
timing signal and a process signal including the first and second
image signals and the second timing signal; a first valid data
generation unit which receives the first timing signal from the
transmission processing unit, receives only data according to valid
timing of the first timing signal in the first image signal from
the process signal to generate a first valid image signal, and
receives only data according to valid timing of the first timing
signal in the second image signal and the second timing signal from
the process signal to output the received second image signal and
the received second timing signal; and a second valid data
generation unit which receives the second timing signal from the
first valid data generation unit and receives only data according
to valid timing of the second timing signal in the second image
signal to generate a second valid image signal.
[0008] A processing device according to another aspect of the
present disclosure, which is connected to an imaging device
including an imaging unit imaging an imaging object to output an
imaging signal and applies a predetermined process based on the
imaging signal imaged by the imaging device, includes: an image
signal generation unit which generates a plurality of image signals
having different clock rates; a transmission unit including a first
timing signal generation unit which receives a first image signal
having the highest clock rate among the plurality of image signals
and generates a first timing signal representing valid timing and
invalid timing of the first image signal, a second timing signal
generation unit which receives a second image signal other than the
first image signal and generates a second timing signal
representing valid timing and invalid timing of the second image
signal, each valid timing of the second timing signal being
synchronized with the valid timing of the first timing signal, a
timing adjustment unit which receives the first timing signal and
the second image signal and outputs the second image signal based
on the first timing signal, a transmission processing unit which
receives the first and second timing signals and the first and
second image signals and individually outputs the first timing
signal and a process signal including the first and second image
signals and the second timing signal, a first valid data generation
unit which receives the first timing signal from the transmission
processing unit, receives only data according to valid timing of
the first timing signal in the first image signal from the process
signal to generate a first valid image signal, and receives only
data according to valid timing of the first timing signal in the
second image signal and the second timing signal from the process
signal to output the received second image signal and the received
second timing signal, and a second valid data generation unit which
receives the second timing signal from the first valid data
generation unit and receives only data according to valid timing of
the second timing signal in the second image signal to generate a
second valid image signal; and an image processing unit which
applies a signal process for display image to the first and second
valid image signals output by the transmission unit.
[0009] The above and other objects, features, advantages and
technical and industrial significance of this disclosure will be
better understood by reading the following detailed description of
presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure, when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration
of an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of the endoscope system according to the embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of a transmission unit of the endoscope system
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating a transmission mode of
electric signals in the transmission unit of the endoscope system
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Hereinafter, an aspect (hereinafter, referred to as an
"embodiment") for embodying the present disclosure will be
described. In the embodiment, a medical endoscope system capturing
an image inside a subject such as a patient and displaying the
image as an example of a system including a transmission system and
a processing device according to the present disclosure will be
described. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to
the embodiment. In addition, in the description of the drawings,
the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration
of an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of the endoscope system according to the
embodiment.
[0016] The endoscope system 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is
configured to include an endoscope 2 which captures an in-vivo
image of a subject by inserting a distal end portion into a body
cavity of the subject, a light source device 3 which generates
illumination light which is to be emitted from an distal end of the
endoscope 2, a processing device 4 which performs a predetermined
signal process on an imaging signal captured by the endoscope 2 and
controls overall operations of the endoscope system 1, and a
display device 5 which displays the in-vivo image generated by the
signal process of the processing device 4.
[0017] The endoscope 2 is configured to include an inserting unit
21 which has flexibility and is formed in an elongated shape, an
operating unit 22 which is connected to a proximal end of the
inserting unit 21 and receives input of various operating signals,
and a universal cord 23 which is extended from the operating unit
22 in a direction different from an extension direction of the
inserting unit 21 and incorporates various cables which are to be
connected to the light source device 3 and the processing device
4.
[0018] The inserting unit 21 is configured to include a distal end
portion 24 which incorporates an image sensor 244 where pixels
generating a signal by receiving light and performing photoelectric
conversion are arrayed in a two-dimensional shape, a bendable
bending portion 25 configured with a plurality of bending pieces,
and a flexible tube portion 26 having flexibility and being in an
elongated shape which is connected to a proximal end side of the
bending portion 25.
[0019] The distal end portion 24 is configured to include a light
guide 241 which is configured by using a glass fiber or the like to
form a light guide path of the light emitted by the light source
device 3, an illumination lens 242 which is provided to a distal
end of the light guide 241, an optical system 243 for collecting
light, and the image sensor 244 which is provided at an imaging
position of the optical system 243 to receive the light collected
by the optical system 243, perform photoelectric conversion on an
electric signal, and apply a predetermined signal process.
[0020] The optical system 243 is configured by using one lens or a
plurality of lenses and has an optical zoom function of changing an
angle of view and a focus function of changing a focus.
[0021] The image sensor 244 photoelectrically converts the light
from the optical system 243 to generate an electric signal (imaging
signal). More specifically, the image sensor 244 is configured to
include a light-receiving unit 244a where a plurality of pixels,
each of which includes a photodiode storing charges according to a
light amount, a condenser converting the charges transferred from
the photodiode to a voltage level, and the like, are arrayed in a
matrix shape and each pixel photoelectrically converts the light
from the optical system 243 to generate an electric signal, and a
reading unit 244b which sequentially reads the electric signal
generated by the pixels arbitrarily set as a to-be-read object
among the plurality of pixels of the light-receiving unit 244a and
outputs the electric signal as an imaging signal. The image sensor
244 controls various operations of the distal end portion 24
according to driving signals received from the processing device 4.
The image sensor 244 is implemented by using, for example, a charge
coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. In the embodiment, the image
sensor 244 is described to output an imaging signal according to a
high definition television (HDTV) image signal.
[0022] The operating unit 22 is configured to include a bending
knob 221 bending the bending portion 25 in the up/down direction
and the left/right direction, a treatment-tool inserting unit 222
inserting a treatment tool such as biological forceps, electric
scalpel, and a biopsy probe into a subject, and a plurality of
switches 223 which are operation inputs unit inputting operation
instruction signals for peripheral devices such as an air supply
means, a water supply means, and a screen display controller in
addition to the processing device 4 and the light source device 3.
The treatment tool inserted from the treatment-tool inserting unit
222 is exposed to an opening (not illustrated) through a
treatment-tool channel (not illustrated) of the distal end portion
24.
[0023] The universal cord 23 incorporates at least the light guide
241 and a collective cable 245 formed by bundling one signal line
or a plurality of signal lines. The collective cable 245 includes
signal lines for transmitting the imaging signals, signal lines for
transmitting the driving signals for driving the image sensor 244,
and signal lines for transmitting and receiving unique information
on the endoscope 2 (image sensor 244).
[0024] Next, the configuration of the light source device 3 will be
described. The light source device 3 is configured to include a
light source 31 and a light source driver 32.
[0025] The light source 31 is configured by using an LED light
source emitting white light and one lens or a plurality of lenses
and emits light (illumination light) by driving the LED light
source under the control of the light source driver 32. The
illumination light generated by the light source 31 is emitted to
the subject from the distal end of the distal end portion 24
through the light guide 241. In addition, the light source 31 may
be configured by using a red LED light source, a green LED light
source, and a blue LED light source to emit light from any one of
the light sources and may emit light having a wavelength range
among red light, green light, and blue light as illumination
light.
[0026] The light source driver 32 supplies a current to the LED
light source of the light source 31 to allow the LED light source
to emit the illumination light. The light source driver 32 controls
a power amount which is to be supplied to the light source 31 (LED
light source) and controls driving timing of the light source 31
based on control signals from a control unit 47 of the processing
device 4.
[0027] Next, a configuration of the processing device 4 will be
described. The processing device 4 is configured to include a
signal processing unit 41, an image signal generation unit 42, a
transmission unit 43 (transmission system), an image processing
unit 44, an input unit 45, a recording unit 46, and the control
unit 47.
[0028] The signal processing unit 41 performs noise removal or A/D
conversion on the imaging signal output by the image sensor
244.
[0029] The image signal generation unit 42 generates a plurality
(two in the embodiment) of image signals having different clock
rates based on the imaging signal input from the signal processing
unit 41. More specifically, the image signal generation unit 42
generates two image signals (first and second image signals) having
valid timing and invalid timing at arbitrary timing. In the
embodiment, it is described that a clock rate of the first image
signal is higher than that of the second image signal. Namely, the
first image signal is described as a first image signal, and the
second image signal is described as a second image signal. The
image signal generation unit 42 receives, for example, an image
signal according to an HDTV image signal (for example, a clock
frequency: 74 MHz) to generate the first image signal according to
the HDTV image signal and decreases the clock rate of the received
image signal to generate the second image signal according to a
standard definition television (SDTV) image signal (for example, a
clock frequency: 27 MHz).
[0030] The transmission unit 43 extracts respective data of valid
timing from the first and second image signals received from the
image signal generation unit 42 and outputs the first and second
valid image signals. In other words, the transmission unit 43
removes data according to invalid timing from the image signal
received from the image signal generation unit 42 and performs
extraction of the data which are to be displayed on a monitor.
[0031] The image processing unit 44 generates an image signal for
display which is to be displayed by the display device 5 based on
the first and second valid image signals input from the
transmission unit 43. The image processing unit 44 performs a
predetermined signal process on the image signal in each standard
to generate the image signal for display which includes an in-vivo
image. Herein, as the signal processes, there are a synchronization
process (performed in the case where an imaging signal is acquired
by using, for example, a color filter or the like), an optical
black subtraction process, a white balance adjustment process, a
color matrix calculation process, a gamma correction process, a
color reproduction process, an edge enhancement process, a format
conversion process, and the like. The image processing unit 44
outputs the generated image signal to the display device 5.
[0032] The input unit 45 receives input of various signals such as
an operation instruction signal of instructing the operations of
the endoscope system 1.
[0033] The recording unit 46 is implemented by using a
semiconductor memory such as a flash memory or a dynamic random
access memory (DRAM). The recording unit 46 records various
programs for operating the endoscope system 1 and data including
various parameters necessary for the operations of the endoscope
system 1. In addition, the recording unit 46 records identification
information of the processing device 4. Herein, the identification
information includes unique information (ID), production year,
specification information, and the like of the processing device
4.
[0034] The control unit 47 is configured by using a CPU and the
like and performs driving control of the components including the
image sensor 244 and the light source device 3 and input/output
control of information with respect to each component. The control
unit 47 refers to control information data (for example, read
timing and the like) for imaging control which are recorded in the
recording unit 46 and transmits the control information data to the
image sensor 244 through a predetermined signal line included in
the collective cable 245.
[0035] Next, the display device 5 will be described. The display
device 5 receives an in-vivo image corresponding to the image
signal generated by the processing device 4 through an image cable
and displays the in-vivo image. The display device 5 is configured
by using a monitor such as a liquid crystal display or an organic
electroluminescence (EL) display device.
[0036] Subsequently, the transmission process by the transmission
unit 43 of the endoscope system 1 will be described with reference
to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a
schematic configuration of the transmission unit of the endoscope
system according to the embodiment. The transmission unit 43 is
configured to include a first transmission unit 43a and a second
transmission unit 43b. The first transmission unit 43a is
configured to include a first valid signal generation unit 431
(first timing signal generation unit), a timing adjustment unit
432, a second valid signal generation unit 433 (second timing
signal generation unit), and a transmission processing unit 434.
The second transmission unit 43b is configured to include a first
valid data generation unit 435 (first valid data generation unit)
and a second valid data generation unit 436 (second valid data
generation unit).
[0037] The first valid signal generation unit 431 generates a first
valid signal (first timing signal) which becomes "High" at valid
timing and "Low" at invalid timing based on the first image signal
received from the image signal generation unit 42. The first valid
signal becomes "High" (valid timing) at a timing corresponding to a
start timing of frames constituting one sheet of image. The first
valid signal generation unit 431 outputs the first image signal
after the generation of the first valid signal to the transmission
processing unit 434 and outputs the generated first valid signal to
the timing adjustment unit 432, the second valid signal generation
unit 433, and the transmission processing unit 434.
[0038] The timing adjustment unit 432 synchronizes the valid timing
of the second image signal with the first valid signal generated by
the first valid signal generation unit 431 to output the second
image signal to the transmission processing unit 434. The timing
adjustment unit 432 first processes and outputs first-coming-in
data and later processes and outputs later-coming-in data. The
timing adjustment unit 432 is implemented by using a memory, for
example, a first-in first-out (FIFO) memory, or the like.
[0039] The second valid signal generation unit 433 generates a
second valid signal (second timing signal) which becomes "High" at
valid timing and "Low" at invalid timing based on the second image
signal received from the image signal generation unit 42. Similarly
to the first valid signal, the second valid signal also becomes
"High" (valid timing) at a timing corresponding to a start timing
of frames. In addition, the second valid signal generation unit 433
synchronizes the generated second valid signal with the first valid
signal and outputs the second valid signal to the transmission
processing unit 434.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating a transmission mode of
electric signals in the transmission unit of the endoscope system
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition,
in FIG. 4, numbers attached to the image signals denote frame
numbers (frame 1, frame 2, frame 3, frame 4, . . . ) given to the
frames. In addition, in FIG. 4, CLK denotes a clock signal. The
signals output from the first valid signal generation unit 431, the
timing adjustment unit 432, and the second valid signal generation
unit 433 are output to the transmission processing unit 434 in the
state that the valid timing of the second image signal and the
valid timing of the second valid signal are included in the valid
timing ("High" state) of the first valid signal, as illustrated in
FIG. 4.
[0041] With respect to the received first and second image signals
and the received first and second valid signals, the transmission
processing unit 434 outputs the valid signal (in the embodiment,
the first valid signal) generated based on the image signal (in the
embodiment, the first image signal) having the highest clock rate
to the first valid data generation unit 435 of the second
transmission unit 43b and outputs the first and second image
signals and the second valid signal as process signals to the first
valid data generation unit 435. In other words, the transmission
processing unit 434 outputs the first valid signal individually to
the first valid data generation unit 435 and outputs the process
signals including the first and second image signals and the second
valid signal to the first valid data generation unit 435.
[0042] The first valid data generation unit 435 receives only the
data of the valid timing (first valid signal is in the "High"
state) in the process signals (the first and second image signals
and the second valid signal) output by the transmission processing
unit 434 based on the received first valid signal. Namely, the
first image signal is recovered to a signal (hereinafter, referred
to as a first valid image signal) having a waveform where the data
of the invalid timing do not exist by a determination process of
the first valid data generation unit 435. At this time, in addition
to the first valid image signal, the synchronizing signal (for
example, the first horizontal synchronizing signal illustrated in
FIG. 4) is also recovered. The first valid data generation unit 435
outputs the received first valid image signal (including the
synchronizing signal) to the image processing unit 44.
[0043] On the other hand, the first valid data generation unit 435
receives the data of the valid timing (first valid signal is in the
"High" state) in the second image signal. Namely, the second image
signal becomes a signal (signal including a portion of the invalid
data of the second valid signal) having a waveform where the data
of the valid timing of the first valid signal exist by a
determination process of the first valid data generation unit 435.
The first valid data generation unit 435 outputs the received
second image signal to the second valid data generation unit 436.
In addition, like the above-described receiving process, the first
valid data generation unit 435 receives the data of the valid
timing (first valid signal is in the "High" state) in the second
valid signal.
[0044] The second valid data generation unit 436 receives only the
data of the valid timing (second valid signal is in the "High"
state) in the second image signal output by the first valid data
generation unit 435 based on the second valid signal received from
the first valid data generation unit 435. Namely, the second image
signal output by the first valid data generation unit 435 is
recovered to a signal (hereinafter, referred to as a second valid
image signal) having a waveform where the data of the invalid
timing do not exist by a determination process of the second valid
data generation unit 436. At this time, in addition to the second
valid image signal, the synchronizing signal (for example, the
second horizontal synchronizing signal illustrated in FIG. 4) is
also recovered. The second valid data generation unit 436 outputs
the received second valid image signal to the image processing unit
44.
[0045] After that, the image processing unit 44 performs a
predetermined signal process on the first valid image signal (HDTV
image signal) and the second valid image signal (SDTV image signal)
which are output from the first valid data generation unit 435 and
the second valid data generation unit 436, respectively, to
generate an image signal including an in-vivo image. Therefore, the
two image signals having different clock rates can be displayed by
the display device 5.
[0046] According to the above-described embodiment, with respect to
the two image signals having different clock rates, the
transmission unit generates two valid signals based on the two
image signals and synchronizes another valid signal with the valid
signal generated based on the image signal having the highest clock
rate, and generates the two valid image signals having different
clock rates based on the valid signals, so that a plurality of
image signals in different standards can be transmitted by a simple
configuration.
[0047] In addition, in the embodiment, although the transmission of
the two image signal having different clock rates is described, but
the above-described transmission process may be applied to three or
more image signals. For example, in the case where three image
signals having different clock rates are generated by the image
signal generation unit 42, among the valid signals generated based
on the image signals, the valid signal of the image signal having
the highest clock rate is set as the first valid signal, the valid
signal of the image signal having the next highest clock rate is
set as the second valid signal, and the valid signal of the
remaining image signal is set to the third valid signal. After
that, the second and the third valid signals are synchronized with
each other so that the valid timing of the second valid signal and
the valid timing of the third valid signal are included in the
valid timing of the first valid signal, and the valid image signals
are generated from the image signals based on the first to third
valid signals. At this time, the timing signal generation unit
generating the second valid signal and the third valid signal
functions as the second timing signal generation unit, and the
second valid signal and the third valid signal correspond to the
second timing signals.
[0048] In addition, in the embodiment, although the signal
processing unit 41, the image signal generation unit 42, and the
transmission unit 43 are described to be installed inside the
processing device 4, such processing blocks may be installed to the
endoscope 2 (for example, a connector portion connected to the
operating unit 22 or the processing device 4 of the universal cord
23).
[0049] In addition, in the embodiment, although the transmission
unit 43 is described to receive a plurality of the image signals
generated by the image signal generation unit 42 and process the
plurality of the image signals, the transmission unit may receive
the image signals (for example, a plurality of image signals
generated by a plurality of imaging systems generating signals
having different clock rates installed in the endoscope 2 side) in
different standards received from the outside and process the
plurality of the image signals.
[0050] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the light
source device 3 is described as a device separated from the
processing device 4. However, the light source device 3 and the
processing device 4 may be an integrated device, and for example,
the light source 31 and the light source driver 32 are provided
inside the processing device 4.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0051] In this manner, the transmission system and the processing
device according to the present disclosure are useful for
transmitting a plurality of image signals in different standards by
a simple configuration.
[0052] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to
obtain an effect that a plurality of image signals in different
standards can be transmitted by a simple configuration.
[0053] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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